MADI RYAN

Westerville 13-year-old

Enlarge ImageRequest to buy this photoThirteen-year-old Madi Ryan of Westerville collected more than 270 pairs of gently used jeans to donate to homeless shelters in the Columbus area. She designed and printed flyers and spent hours delivering them.

Tuesday September 13, 2011 1:03 PM

Madi received a flyer one afternoon about a charity drive to collect gently used jeans for homeless teenagers (Jeans for Teens, sponsored by Aeropostale). She took it upon herself to begin her own collection in the community.

She designed and printed flyers and spent hours delivering them house to house. She also posted them in local businesses and churches. She had no idea how big her personal jeans drive would become. Within two weeks, Madi has single-handedly collected over 270 pairs of jeans to donate to homeless shelters in the Columbus area.

When she first announced she was going to be collecting jeans for the charity drive, I asked her what prompted her to do so. I thought perhaps it was some kind of contest. Her answer astounded me. She said, "I just wanted to do something to help kids whose parents can't give them all the things my parents give me." There was no reward or incentive.

She just truly wanted to do something to help others. The spark of her kindness ignited a fire in those around her, and the jeans began piling up. Every day there were more bags of jeans to pick up from the church or local businesses where Madi has posted flyers. Madi's enthusiasm inspired others to open their hearts and their closets to those less fortunate.

By the time the jeans drive concluded, it took five people, a dolly and countless boxes to deliver the 270-plus pairs of jeans to the local Aeropostale store in Polaris mall. Needless to say, the store staff was overwhelmed and extremely pleased with Madi's donations.